Beyond The Impossible

Olympus, 28,000 light-years from Earth

Very few mortals have ever visited Olympus, and even fewer did so of their own free will.

This is not the first time Noriko Null approaches the majestic palace made of Neutral Matter, but it’s the first time she’s not using her ship.

Hebe leaves her ship first, floating effortlessly a few inches from the ground. On the other hand, Null has to walk very carefully: the gravitational dampener that allows her to survive the intense gravity of the white dwarf star beneath her feet requires very precise movements.

<Are you sure you want to do this here? I could convince Gaea to take our discussion somewhere else.> the young goddess suggests.

<She’s the one that made this into a challenge. She’s the first serious threat to our co-reign, Hebe, we should face it together.>

<That’s a relief. I was worried the only reason you wanted me to come along was in case we had to attack her directly.>

<It’s not entirely off the table.>

<Actually, it is. We’re not going to combine our powers to turn her into a baby like we did with my mother.> Hebe tells her, showing a surprising amount of self-confidence.

<Hebe, I understand she’s your great-grandmother, but if she threatens to hurt people…>

<Oh it’s not that I’m not prepared to do it, Null. It’s that we literally can’t do it.>

<Why not?>

<She’s a Primordial, remember? She’s never been young, she’ll never grow old, she simply… is. I can’t turn back the clock on someone who is physically incapable of aging.>

<Are you sure?>

<I’m the goddess of youth. I know what I’m talking about.> Hebe points out, slightly offended by the idea that she wouldn’t know how someone ages. Or in this case, doesn’t.

Noriko decides not to press her, and they continue their walk on the long staircase that leads to the majestic gates that lead into the palace… and which are now open, and covered in moss.

Noriko kneels to examine one of the roots that are growing out of the palace; they are slowly expanding, unbothered by the constant exposure to radiation. Unlike Noriko, they are not protected by a powerful forcefield: they seem to thrive, even on a palace built on the surface of a star.

<Her control over organic life is astounding. How can her plants survive here?>

<These are not plants. This is her.> Hebe points out.

The root twitches, and flowers blooms out of the wood with astounding speed. Noriko takes a step back as a mass of plant life takes the shape of a buxom woman.

<Welcome to my new garden, Null. I see you took a mortal friend with you.> Gaea greets her, as wood and petals shape into green skin.

<I, uhm, I’m not a mortal. I’m your great-granddaughter.> Hebe feebly greets her.

<Oh, I’m sorry, sometimes it’s hard for me to notice such small differences in power. You’re Demeter’s kid, right? I liked you better with green hair.>

<I’m not Persephone. I’m Hebe, Goddess of Youth and, uhm, Empress of Olympus. Well, Co-Empress really.>

<That’s cute. So this is your palace now?>

<Technically, yes.>

<It’s a bit drab, isn’t it? Not a place fit for a child. Here, let me fix it up for you.>

Gaea lifts her arms, and the entire star trembles. Noriko has to swallow her pride and grab onto Hebe to keep her balance: whatever Gaea is doing, it’s far too much for her gravity dampener to adapt quickly enough.

Roots and foliage grow our of the palace, seeping into the star below. With a thunderous sound, a large part of the star itself is released into space; Hebe stares at it changing into a ball of sunlight, while Noriko is more astonished at the data she’s receiving from the scanner in her N-Phone.

The mass of the star is decreasing fast, to the point that the gravity is lowered to Earth’s level in a matter of seconds. Not only this doesn’t completely destroy the star, but its composition is being changed drastically.

Condensed stellar matter is being transmuted into solid rock right before her very eyes. Noriko has seen her fair share of impossible feats, but this is by far the most extreme display of godly power she’s ever witnessed.

<There, all done. Isn’t this better?>

<Did… did you just… turn a star… into a planet!?!?> Noriko asks, her voice shaking.

<Plants can now grow naturally here. Although you should probably get someone to fix the sun, I’m not all that good at making those… but it’ll last a couple million years, so there’s no need to rush.> Gaea suggests, gesturing towards the sun that is now shining permanently above the newly created skies of Olympus.

Seen from orbit, the white dwarf star has been replaced by a terrestrial planet where the palace is the only structure: the rest of this world will be covered by forests in a matter of minutes.

<Do you still want to get inside? It’d be a waste of good sunshine. I’m no expert of animals, but you probably could use a little sunlight… you look quite pale.>

<I’m fine.> Noriko Null lies as she turns off both the gravity dampener and the forcefield; she hates to admit it, but this is a very relaxing environment now.

She hates feeling completely out of her depth even more.

 

Outside the Olympian Galaxy

N01-Ragnarok, living quarters

Kari Zel stands with her arms crossed and an angry expression on her face, looking down at the four children standing before her.

The twins Imani and Azure are holding each other’s hand, while their older sister Ariel is doing her best to avoid crying.

<I am very disappointed in you girls. Did you even stop to think for a second that you could’ve been seriously hurt!?>

<We’re stronger when we turn into Trinity.> Ariel weakly tries to justify herself.

<Oh so you gave it a name now!?>

<We’re thinking of changing it to Triad.> Ariel adds, her voice getting even lower.

<Should’ve gone with “Norn”.> Nalani Null mumbles.

Kari has so far ignored Noriko’s sister, concentrating on scolding her daughters, but she turns towards the little genius and raises her voice.

<Don’t even get me STARTED on you! What’s the idea of sneaking on the ship? Your mother must be scared sick right now! At least my kids have the excuse of being regular children, you’re supposed to be the smart one! What made you think you could sneak on the Ragnarok!?>

<It would’ve totally worked if Demon powers made any scientific sense, how was I supposed to know Torn would sense Norn was on the ship?> Nalani complains.

<Trinity.> the three Zel kids respond in unison.

<That’s it, you are all grounded, all four of you! You are not setting foot out of this room until we’re back on Earth!> Kari yells.

<It’s not fair, you can’t ground me! I’m too smart to be grounded!> Nalani complains.

<You’re five years old, missy, you’re a loooong way from talking back to me.>

<Five and three fifths.> Nalani mumbles.

<May we speak in private?> Torn asks, making Kari wince in surprise.

<Where did you come from!?>

<I have been here the entire time.> the typically silent Demon replies.

<Alright, but lock the door, okay? I don’t trust that one.> Kari says, pointing at Nalani before leaving the room.

As soon as she’s out of the room, a couple of Demon swords appear in front of it, discouraging Noriko’s sister from attempting to sabotage the electronic lock.

<How do you do it, Torn?> Kari asks, massaging the bridge of her nose.

<Do what?>

<I’ve seen you around your daughters, and you never need to raise your voice with them. And one’s even a teenager! My kids are already driving me nuts now, I don’t think I’ll survive their puberty.>

<I don’t understand how seeds are involved, but your children are too young to drive.>

<That’s not what… nevermind. I don’t want to end the mission because my kids did something stupid, do you think you could open a portal to take them home?>

<I don’t believe we should do that, no. They should participate in the mission.>

<Are you out of your mind!? They’re babies, I don’t care if they fuse or whatever!>

<It’s a chance for them to train in their use of their abilities. And without Null, we could use Nalani’s scientific expertise.>

<Yep, you’re definitely crazy. First of all I am not taking a five year old on a deep space mission, without her mother’s permission even, no matter how many digits her IQ has. And as for my kids, they don’t need training because they are never fusing into a single being ever again!>

<Kari. You have been a mother for 4 years. I have been a father for 67. So trust me when I say that the more you try to stop your children from making something they love, the more they’ll try.>

<I suppose you’re right. It’s just that… I wasn’t much older than Nalani when my parents died, and most of the kids I knew growing up were orphans, so I don’t have a great source of reference for how to be a good mother. What if they…>

Kari’s speech is interrupted by the ship shaking violently, with the artificial gravity needing a few moments to adjust to a sudden shift of its position.

<Felt like we hit something.> Torn says.

<Shouldn’t we have left the Galaxy at this point?> Kari wonders.

<Guys, you better come on the bridge.> Quantum calls them via radio.

 

On the bridge

Quantum rubs his eyes. He can see much more than any human can, being able to sense all kinds of energy, but his senses confirm the absurdity shown on the main viewscreen.

As soon as they are on the bridge, Kari has the same reaction. Torn just raises an eyebrow.

<You’ve got to be kidding me. We’re underwater!?> Kari asks.

<Correct. The ship has dropped below lightspeed and is currently surrounded by 8.3 cubic kilometers of water.> is the answer from L.O.K.I, the ship’s artificial intelligence.

<HOW!?> Quantum wonders.

<Unknown. Sensors are currently off-line.>

<We should leave before they try to board us.> Torn suggests.

<Who’s “they”?> Kari asks, but she’s far more concerned by the water now dropping from the ceiling: a large amount of water has been teleported above their heads, hitting them with enough force to disorient her and knock Quantum unconscious.

Torn is resilient enough to ignore the hit, even conjuring up a pair of Blood swords. He’s lucky he did so, because the same portal that is constantly dropping water on the Vanguard also deposits a figure armed with a trident. Torn cuts the weapon in half, but considering he’s already knee deep in icy cold water he’s not fast enough to avoid the harpoon hitting him in the back.

Kari is having even more trouble: there’s so much water flooding the bridge that she can’t easily create more duplicates of herself, especially when a weighted net traps her.

In less than a minute from the appearance of the first drop of water, the bridge is completely submerged. Five humanoids swim freely, two males and two females covered head to toe in matching wetsuits… if they had feet: from the waist down, they have the tail of a fish.

They apply a breathing device on the mouths of their targets, and the leader of the boarding party sits down on the captain’s chair to set up new coordinates for the navigation system.